So You Think You Know: Paul Revere

Listen my children and you shall hear
Of the midnight ride of Paul Revere…

We are all familiar with Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s famous poem recounting the exploits of one of our most renowned patriots, Paul Revere. As such, we all know that Paul Revere singlehandedly warned the Massachusetts countryside of the coming attack by the British regulars, helping the colonists to defeat the British in the first small battles of the Revolutionary War.

Except that it’s not true.

Longfellow’s famous poem was actually written in 1860 many years after the end of the Revolutionary War. In fact, the poem had absolutely nothing to do with Revolutionary zeal and was instead intended to appeal to the Northerners’ sense of urgency and patriotism as the nation entered into the Civil War. The poem’s final stanza is actually a call to action, urging readers to remember the patriotism and courage of the birth of the nation:

A cry of defiance, and not of fear,
A voice in the darkness, a knock at the door,
And a word that shall echo for evermore!
For, borne on the night-wind of the Past,
Through all our history, to the last,
In the hour of darkness and peril and need,
The people will waken and listen to hear
The hurrying hoof-beats of that steed,
And the midnight message of Paul Revere.

This poem is often the people’s primary source of information regarding the midnight ride, but the truth of the night of April 18, 1775 is very different from the story related in Longfellow’s poem. Among the historical inaccuracies are:

  • The focus on Paul Revere. The midnight ride of April 18 was actually undertaken by several men, including William Dawes, Samuel Prescott, and dozens of other men whose names did not survive history. Longfellow (and history) gave Revere the credit primarily because his name rhymed better than Dawes’s or Prescott’s.
  • The lantern signal. While there was a lantern signal hung in the tower of the Old North Church, the signal was not meant for Revere. The signal was actually from Revere as he was the man who arranged for the church sexton to hang the lanterns.
  • Revere’s cry. Revere did not wander the countryside yelling “The British are coming!” For one thing, Revere was trying to elude British soldiers – screaming out a warning would have been a pretty dumb move. Secondly, most colonists still considered themselves to be British – they would have been pretty confused by the phrase, “The British are coming.”
  • Revere’s success. The poem implies that Revere’s mission was a complete success. Revere had intended to ride to Lexington to warn John Hancock and Samuel Adams of the movements of the British regulars (which he did) and then on to Concord where the militia’s arsenal was hidden. Revere never finished his ride – the only rider to actually complete the mission was Samuel Prescott.

While Longfellow’s poem is certainly an example of patriotic writing, it should never be considered an accurate source of historical information. (Neither, apparently, should Sarah Palin, who famously said that Paul Revere warned the British by ringing bells; Palin offers sound proof that our public education system’s handling of American history education leaves much to be desired.) So the next time that someone tells you that Paul Revere saved the nation, don’t be afraid to show a little skepticism.

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Skepticism and Education: Why Grade Inflation Places Your Child at Risk

At first, grade inflation was positively received by critics. But now the truth is coming out…

The rich always strive to get richer, and the NFL lockout is another perfect example of this: The super-wealthy team owners have opted to end their agreement with the players, citing “unfair” financial burdens as their reason. The disagreement essentially stems from the fact that the owners claim that their financial risks ought to be rewarded by a greater share of the league’s $9 billion annual profits; the players have expressed skepticism regarding these financial burdens, doubts which have only been solidified by the fact that the owners have repeatedly refused to open their books for inspection. Though the players’ doubts may well cost them the 2011 season, the owners are relatively unconcerned – after all, they stand to make a $4 billion profit even if there isn’t a single game played.

We should all take a lesson from the football players of the NFL because a healthy dose of skepticism can be excellent armor against the unfair maneuvering of those in power. And no one has a greater right to skepticism than the modern American parent.

Parental skepticism should begin on the first day of Kindergarten, for it is on that day that an endless round of misleading report cards begins. Rather than grading students based on their actual performance, teachers at the elementary level often employ a confusing and highly subjective system of stars and smiley faces. Even those schools which stand by the traditional letter-based grading system are prone to incredibly subjective grading, resulting in report cards which are a truer reflection of the teacher’s relationship with the student than of the student’s performance in class. It is important to utilize every resource available to you in order to ensure that your child’s learning achievements measure up to his grades – consider signing your child up for a diagnostic exam through a third party such as 宝博体育 in order to get a more in-depth look at your child’s strengths and weaknesses.

When students grow older and their grades begin to carry greater significance, grade inflation becomes an even bigger problem. At the high school level, neither grades nor course titles are straightforward:

In fact, the only high school courses with relatively straightforward course titles are A.P. courses, because these classes must align to the standards set by the College Board. But though the course content is rigorous, many question whether the program truly helps students:

  • 1.2 million AP exams were taken in 2000, compared with 3.1 million in 2010
  • 36.4% of the exams taken in 2000 were awarded failing scores, compared with 42.5% in 2010

However, most educators agree that even students who fail the AP exam benefit greatly from taking the more rigorous course. Simply being exposed to the more demanding coursework and the greater amount of work helps to better prepare students for college; even students who failed the AP exam will be more likely to succeed in college level courses having already been introduced to college expectations. If you have a child who is interested in taking AP courses but is worried about the rigor of the coursework, consider speaking with a 宝博体育 program director. 宝博体育’s programs can help prepare students for upcoming AP classes or for the AP exams each May.

Because there is so much obfuscation surrounding high school transcripts, college admissions officers are left in a bind: How does one evaluate students from across the country if their course selections and grades are misleading? The simplest solution is to cull students from high schools with longstanding reputations. This is why students from the nation’s top public and private high schools are so highly overrepresented at Ivy League colleges.

At the high school level, this widespread grade inflation has several roots:

  • As college admissions has become increasingly competitive, parents have placed educators under increasing pressure to give higher grades in order to make their children more attractive to colleges.
  • Likewise, public high schools prefer to show higher average GPAs in order to improve their standing and gain additional funding.

One might imagine that such misleading behavior would end once students have reached the final goal of being admitted to college. Sadly, this is not the case – grade inflation at the college level is well documented:

  • In 1960, nearly 20% of all letter grades were D’s and F’s – today, only 10% are D’s and F’s
  • In 1960, 15% of all letter grades were A’s – today, 43% are A’s
  • In 1960, the most frequently awarded letter grade was a C, which is why C has long been considered the benchmark for an “average” grade – today, the vast majority of letter grades (73%) are A’s and B’s

This data might suggest that our college students are stronger today than they were fifty years ago. However, a study released earlier this year revealed that today’s students spend roughly half the amount of time studying than students did a few decades ago, and 35% of college students today say that they spend fewer than 5 hours per week studying. These two trends suggest that rather than our students getting stronger, our colleges are getting easier.

College grade inflation occurs across the spectrum, but the worst offenders are private schools. Over the past few decades, the average GPA at private schools has increased at a far faster pace than the average GPA at public schools; today, the average GPA for private schools is 3.3, compared to 3.0 at public schools. These schools, which cost, on average, well over twice as much as public schools, offer a significant advantage to their students when it comes time to apply to graduate school or find a job. In fact, the study’s authors suggest that this rampant grade inflation might explain why students from private schools are so overrepresented in top medical, business and law schools.

Grade inflation is yet another chapter in the long, sad story of wealth disparity in education. Those with the means to do so pay large sums of money to send their children to the top private high schools, thus ensuring admission to the nation’s top private colleges, where professors and administrators make sure that their students graduate with artificially high GPAs that guarantee admission to the nation’s top graduate programs.

So the next time that your child brings home a straight-A report card, make sure you look beyond the grades. Ask your child what he/she learns in school; look at your child’s textbooks to familiarize yourself with course content; communicate with your child’s teachers to get a sense of their grading practices. Consider speaking with a 宝博体育 representative for additional help with interpreting your child’s report cards, ensuring that your child is performing at the highest level possible, and overcoming the hurdles to being accepted at his/her dream school. And always remember: Grades are meaningless without the hard work and knowledge to back them up.

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Summer Programs: Building a Stronger Resume in Math and Science (Part 1)

With college admissions processes growing more competitive each year, students and parents are often left wondering: What can I do to create the strongest possible college application? While good grades and test scores were once the primary deciding factors in college admissions, today’s applicants consistently have much higher grades and scores. This means that aspects of the college application such as the personal statement and extracurricular involvement have become more important than ever. One of the best ways to improve an already strong college application is to take advantage of unique and/or prestigious learning opportunities, particularly within a student’s field of interest. Such activities not only provide a “wow factor” for a student’s resume and application, but also provide 3rdparty validation for the applicant as well as provide interesting stories for college admissions essays.

For students who are interested in science or math, numerous internships, research opportunities, and academic programs are offered throughout the country. We offer a small sampling below, but this is a mere fraction of the available options. For more options, check with local research institutions, colleges and universities, and local government offices.

Please note that many summer opportunities require certain courses or grade levels. Some have minimum GPA requirements of 3.7 or better as well as strong PSAT or SAT scores. Students should spend months preparing to apply to such programs, and application deadlines are often very early in the year. Plan ahead for the best chances of admission!

Internships and Research Opportunities for Math and Science Students:

  • Research Science Institute (RSI)
    • A 6-week-long summer program at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
    • Academic, corporate, and government-sponsored research teams invite RSI students to join on-going research projects in various scientific fields
      • Students attend 1 week of classes before performing 5 weeks of research
      • On-going evening lecture series
      • Independent research opportunities
      • Culminates in an academic conference in which students report their research findings
  • This incredibly prestigious program accepts only 80 students internationally; some students even earn recognition in the form of co-authorship credits in journal articles
  • Open to rising seniors; students should apply by January of their junior years
  • Application requirements include:
    • Taking the most challenging math and science courses available at your school
    • Demonstrating superior achievement in math, science, and the verbal arts
    • Math PSAT of 75+, total PSAT of 220+
    • Stanford Institutes of Medicine Summer Research Program (SIMR)
      • During this 8-week program, students perform research with Stanford faculty, postdoctoral fellows, students, and researchers on a medically oriented project
      • In addition to 40+ hours of internship each week, students may also participate in lectures, seminars, lab research, and scientific presentations
      • Programs are available in several fields, including:
        • Immunity, Transplantation and Infection
        • Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine
        • Neuro-Innovation and Translational Neuroscience
        • Cardiovascular Medicine
  • This program accepts only 40-45 students each year. Students must commute as no housing options are offered.
  • Admissions requirements include:
    • A personal essay
    • Top grades in all courses
    • Challenging science coursework
    • SAT I & II scores are strongly encouraged but not required
  • Students should apply by February of their sophomore or junior years
  • National Institute of Standards and Technology Summer High School Internship Program (NIST SHIP)
    • This internship requires at least a 6-week commitment, though some labs may require a longer commitment
    • Students participate in cutting edge research with NIST staff scientists and engineers
    • Areas of research include:
      • physics
      • chemistry
      • biochemistry
      • engineering
      • mathematics
      • statistics
      • information technology
      • computer science
  • This is an unpaid internship and students are responsible for housing and transportation to the NIST facilities located in Gaithersburg, MD
  • Initial application requirements:
    • Only U.S. citizens may apply
    • Minimum 3.0 GPA
  • Finalists must submit:
    • Resume
    • Transcript
    • Teacher recommendations
    • Personal statement
  • Students should apply by February of their junior or senior years
  • National Institutes of Health Summer Internship Program (NIH SIP)
    • Internship requires a minimum 8-week commitment
    • This program is highly competitive: Only about 17% of applicants are accepted each year, and of those less than 1/3 are high school students
    • Most internships take place at the main NIH campus in Bethesda, MD, though some labs are located in other parts of the country; students should keep this in mind when applying for specific programs
    • Interns receive a monthly stipend (amount determined on an annual basis); housing and transportation to the campus are the student’s responsibility
    • Students should apply by March of their sophomore, junior, or senior years; admission is determined on a rolling basis, so the earlier the application is received the better the chances for admission
    • Application requirements include:
      • Student must turn 16 years old before the start of the program
      • Student must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident
      • Resume
      • List of coursework and grades
      • Cover letter describing applicant’s research interests and career goals
      • 2 references
      • Boston University Summer Term Research Internship in Science and Engineering
        • Under the guidance of a BU research mentor, students work on an on-going research project for 40 hours per week for 6 weeks
        • Program culminates in a scientific conference during which students present their research
        • Areas of research include:
          • astronomy
          • biology
          • chemistry
          • engineering
          • medicine
          • physics
          • psychology
  • Tuition and fees: $4,050; Room and board: $2,026-$2,196
  • Less than 20% of applicants are accepted each year
  • Students should apply by April 1 of their junior years; admissions is determined on a rolling basis, so the earlier a student applies the better his chances for admission
  • Admissions criteria include:
    • Top grades
    • Challenging coursework
    • High standardized test scores (PSAT, SAT, ACT, and PLAN are all accepted)
    • Personal statement
    • 2 letters of recommendation

To be continued…

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The SAT: Early Preparation is Vital

Newsweek and U.S. News and World Report have unanimously declared Thomas Jefferson High School for Science Technology in Virginia to be America’s best high school. At Thomas Jefferson, the average student scores in the 98th percentile on the SAT – 600-700 points higher than the national average. This is not because all of Thomas Jefferson’s students are born geniuses, but because they have begun SAT preparation as early as elementary school in order to prepare for admission to the selective high school. These ambitious students have given themselves a significant edge in college admissions, simply by preparing as early as possible.

“Students who hope to compete for admission to the nation’s more select colleges will be competing against students who have been preparing for the admissions process since early middle school, or even elementary school,” says David Kim, co-founder of 宝博体育 Education. “The number of students applying to Ivy League schools and other top ranked universities has increased exponentially in recent years, but the schools aren’t accepting more students. Instead, they are sending out more rejection letters. The students receiving those fat admissions packets are those who have prepared long and hard in order to be as competitive as possible.”

The Importance of the SAT

Although the SAT has seen its fair share of controversy since its inception, it remains one of the most vital aspects of the college admissions process. Each school differs in its requirements and admissions standards, but the vast majority of colleges and universities still value the SAT as a quantitative guideline to measure a student’s potential for academic success. “Colleges value the SAT because it allows them to make an apples to apples comparison between students from different schools and with different backgrounds,” Mr. Kim says. “In fact, the SAT is generally regarded as one of the top two most important parts of a college application, with the other being grade point average. It really does have the potential to make or break an application.”

A high SAT score can also open the door to many scholarship opportunities. “Many schools offer full or partial scholarships as an incentive for students with particularly high SAT scores,” Mr. Kim notes. “Plus, the National Merit Scholarship, which is an incredibly prestigious award, is given to the top 1% of students taking the Preliminary SAT or PSAT. So studying for the SAT now can end up saving a lot of money in the future.”

In addition, many students are surprised to find that some employers, particularly those in the financial services sector, require certain SAT scores as a basis for hiring decisions. In other words, scores earned at the early age of sixteen can impact a job search several years later. “Students who fail to adequately prepare for the SAT can forget about applying at companies like Goldman Sachs, McKinsey, or Microsoft,” Mr. Kim says.

When Should SAT Prep Begin?

“We have many parents who ask us when their child should begin preparing for the SAT,” Mr. Kim says. “In a single word, the answer is ‘early’. Preparing for the SAT is a marathon, not a sprint. This is inherent in the very nature of the test. Typical test prep books offer good suggestions, tips, and shortcuts – but knowing the little test-taking tricks simply isn’t enough. Students absolutely must have the necessary foundation of knowledge first, and building that takes time.”

“We have middle school students who are already preparing for the SAT,” says Mr. Kim. “Some of these students will take the SAT very early in order to apply for various gifted and talented programs such as Duke’s Talent Identification Program. Others hope to attend the nation’s most elite universities and they want to be as prepared as possible when the final admissions push begins.” Mr. Kim also notes that students applying to Ivy League universities or other highly selective schools will be competing against the nation’s top scholars for admission. “Students who attend prestigious private and prep schools and selective magnet schools are exposed to SAT preparation as early as the fourth or fifth grade,” he says. “These are the children competing for admission to top schools, and students who attend public school need to begin SAT prep as early as possible in order to keep up.”

Early SAT preparation can help students find academic success in middle and high school as well. “Very young students who begin SAT preparation generally focus on the reading and writing sections, because the math section often includes information that they are not yet ready for,” Mr. Kim says. “As a result, students who begin studying the reading and writing sections of the SAT at an early age gain higher critical reading skills, better writing capabilities, and broader vocabularies than their peers. These verbal skills will help them find success at all levels of their education, long before they ever attend college.”

“It’s so frustrating to see students who come for intensive SAT preparation mere weeks before their test date,” Mr. Kim says. “No matter how hard they work, no matter how hands-on our tutors are, their scores can only increase so much in a short amount of time. And it’s just so maddening to know that with more time, this student could have gone to Harvard.”

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Personalizing the Common Application: Future Plans

The Common Application (Common App) is an undergraduate college application which allows students to apply to any of 415 participating schools without having to complete numerous lengthy school applications. However, even with the Common App, it is possible – even highly recommended – for students to personalize the application for each school they are applying to. In fact, the online version of the Common App allows students to complete up to 10 different versions of the application.

Future Plans

Within the main application, there is a section titled “Future Plans.” In addition to information regarding housing and financial aid plans, this section also asks students which specific school they are applying to, intended areas of study, academic interests, and career interests. While the rest of the application can be filled out only once, students should complete this portion for each college they are applying to.

Declaring a Major vs. Choosing a School

Many universities, particularly larger universities, contain multiple colleges or schools. For example, undergraduate applicants at New York University may choose from 12 schools and colleges, ranging from Stern School of Business to Tisch School of the Arts. Most institutions with multiple colleges or schools allow students to list the schools they are interested in applying to in order of preference. Thus, if they are “rejected” from one school, they may still be eligible for the next school they have applied to.

While choosing a specialized college or school does tend to limit or direct the student’s intended major (after all, a student at business school would hardly major in Eighteenth Century Literature), there is a difference between “declaring a major” and “choosing a school”. When declaring a major, applicants are not placed in direct competition against those applicants who have chosen the same course of study. However, students applying to a specific school are in direct competition with the other applicants at the school. In addition, declaring a major tends to be a somewhat more flexible decision than choosing a school. Studied show that as many as ¾ of undergraduate students change their majors at least once; colleges and universities tend to be very flexible in allowing students to alter their courses of study. However, once a student is accepted into a particular school or college, it can be difficult to change course. Often, students wishing to leave one school for another, even within the same university, must complete the application process all over again.

For each university that students intend to apply to, students should be strongly encouraged to research each college or school within the university. This will not only allow the student to better decide which school will fit his/her needs best, it will also offer insight into the odds of acceptance. Within the same university, different colleges and schools have different acceptance rates – some are more competitive than others. As a general rule of thumb, “Liberal Arts” or “College of Arts & Sciences,” which are usually considered the “main” undergraduate college, tend to be less competitive than the more specialized schools.

Check back next week when we will discuss the pros and cons of declaring a major and how best to go about choosing a course of study!

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